Garter or the like



ug. 9, 1932. A. P. LUBELL 1,871,066

' @ARTER on THE LIKE Filed Sept. 1.5, 1931 INVENTOR /fvw ATTORNEYPatented Aug. 9, 1932 l f ienne@ MRAHAM I'. LUBELL, OF NEW YORK, yN. Y.

GARTER OR THE LIKE Application led September 15, `1931. Serial No.562,897. Y i

My invention relates to a garter, its objectl being to provide. a noveland an improved device of this character for use by nien, wvomen andchildren, to prevent hose and stockings from slipping down on the leg.

The device of my invention is also useful in K other places andcapacities, such for instance, as retaining a sleeve from slippingvonthe arrn, or for maintaining a belt or other article o or portion ofclothing in place.

' An object of the invention is of a garter construction which, whileefficiently sustaining thestoclring, ivill'notbind or constrict the leg,and, therefore, will not 5 interfere with the freel movement Aof theblood in the veins and capillaries.'v

Another object is to provide a construction` which will be comfortablein use, will not irritate the skin by rubbing thereon, and which willnot pull or draw upon the flesh.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a garter whichextends transversely or obliquely of the leg for a distance, but doesnot extend entirely around or encircle the leg. The device isconstructed for at tachment to the stocking atopposite points, andbetween such points it includes an elastic or tvieldable element,capable of ready en# 4pa'nsion 'andvcontraction i/Vithinv improveddevice, the stocking itself is, in effect, caused to serve as a part ofthe holding means by which to be sustained in place.

Another object of the invention is to pro'-A vide a garter constructionof few parts, which will be exceedingly economical to mannfacture, andone which can be applied to the stocking and removed therefrom with easeand dispatch.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved garter construction, and in the form, construction, andrelative arrangement of its several parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 represents a perspective view, showing' a gartermade in accordance with my invention and applied to a short stockingterminating below the knee; and

the provision Fig. 2. representsaplan view of the garter detached fromthe stocking.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the invention isdisclosed as comprising an elongated elastic element in the` form ofahelical spring 10 adapted to be expanded and to automatically contractafterfeach eXpansion. Theopposite ends of the helical spring are shapedVto form terminal loops 11. With each of these loops is pivotallyengaged an end piece or connector 12 carrying a fastening member 13. f yf Preferably as shown, the end pieces or connectors V*12 may be producedfrom light wire, bent at one end to provide loops 14 in pivotalengagement with the terminal loops `11 of the spring, and at theopposite end to provide loops 15 in pivotal engagement with the eyes 16of the fastening members 13. Between the loops 14 and 15, the wires arebent .in opposite directions to produce angular portions 17. In thisway, I provide an elongated garter or holder construction consisting ofa central elastic element, at each end of which is pivotally connectedan end piece or connector 12 with which in turn is pivotallyconnected afastening member 13. In the present instance, the fastening members13'are repre sented as' vcomprising lsafety pins adapted readily to beVengaged with thefabri-c or Inaterial of a stocking as shown at 18.

As represented in Fig. 1, the garter in use is preferably applied to thestocking just below the top edge 19 thereof. Application is made byconnecting oneof the safety pins to the stocking at one side ofthe legand then extending the garter transversely of the leg an-d across thefront portion thereof, so that the other safety piny can be attached tothe stocking at the opposite side of the leg; Manifestly, beforeattaching the second safety pin to the stocking, the spring is eX-panded to the extent necessary to effect close fitting of the vrearportion 2O of the stocking to the contour of the leg. -Between the op- 9posite points at which the safety pins are connected with the fabricofthe stocking, the rear portion QOof the stocking constitutes, ine'ect, a continuation of the garter device, so

that the lstocking is firmly maintained onthe 'n v in any place orcapacity where it is desiredleg to prevent downward slipping thereof.The helical spring is composed of relatively light material, readilycapable of bending longitudinally in a curve in conformity with thecurvature of the leg. rIhe end pieces or connectors l2 are so bent ortwisted that they will come flatwise against the leg in conjunction withthel loops to which they are connected, as shown in Fig. l. It will beobvious that the sides of the wire end pieces or connecters are bent inoppcsitedirections to form a base-having a lateral breadth suiiicient toprevent r'any turning of the Agarter structure upon the leg of thewearer. By

pivotally connecting the end pieces between" the helical spring and thesafety pins, the safety pins may bev freely swung or' manipulated inorder readily to attach them te the stocking las well as to disconnectthem therefrom. While I prefer to provide the end pieces 12 between theelastic element and the fastening members, it will be recognized that,

if desired, the fastening members may be piv otally connected directlyto the terminals of the elastic element.

Although for the purpose of demonstrating its practicability, I have inFigfl illustrated'Y my garter or holder as applied to a short stocking18 terminating belowV the knee,

will be readily recognized that my garter orl holder may with equalfacility and advantage be applied abovey the knee to a long stockingreaching above the knee. Over the ring-V shap'ed garter so frequently`usedby women, girls, and boys for sustaining a long stocking Yabove theknee, the garter of myinvention is av great improvement, since it doesnot indent or constrict the iiesh seas to cause.

irritation or to restrict the circulation of thebloed. For the samereasons, it is found to be a great improvement over the` leg-encirclinggarters used by men belowthe knee for 'holding short stockings or socks.l

As i timated in thestatement of objects, the garter ofmy invention maybe used on a sleeve tosustainit in the position desired g and it mayfurther be employed as a fabric holder to sustain a fabric or a portionof a garment by tensioning the same to effect close fitting to a firm orrelatively firm contour. Although I have .illustrated the garter asapplied transversely of the leg, it will be recognized that it may, ifdesired, beapplied in an .g 'oblique direction.

.- In the present embodiment, my invention hasl been illustrated in itssimplest form and without any covering.V If des-ired,the spring, endpieces yand even parts of the fastening members may be covered withfabric or even rubber material. Although, inthe present embodiment,ordinary safety pins are used for fastening members, it is to beunderstood that in place of safety pins, anysuitable or While I haveillustrated and described the n preferred form of construction forcarrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation andmodification without departing from the spirit of the inventon. I,therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, ybut desire' toavail myself of such variationsand modiiications as come within the 'scope of the Y appended claims. i

I claim l. A stocking garter adapted to conform to the rotundity of theleg to constrict the stocking around the leg',comprising end fastenersadapted to be engaged with the stocking by penetrating the weavethereof, a coiled spring having capacity for expansion and contraction,and connecters connecting the fasteners respectively with the oppositeendsv of the spring, comprising wire frames the l sides of which arebent in opposite directionsto form a base of sufficient lateral extentto .prevent turning'of the garter on the leg.

2. A stocking garter adapted to conformr to the rotundity of the`leg toconstrict the stocking around the leg, comprising end fasteners adaptedto be engaged with the stocking'by penetrating the weave thereof, acoiled spring having Vcapacity for expansion and contraction, and meansconnecting the fasf? teners with the coiledV spring, comprising wireframes having sides spread in oppo` site directions to form a base ofsufficient lateral extent to prevent turning of the garter on the. leg,said wire frames being pivotally 'connected at their outer ends with thefas-.y

teners and at their inner ends with the ends of the spring. Y Y n VIntestimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed myname hereto.

' ABRAHAMY I. LUBELL.

1 approved fasteningvm'embers oneven clasps

